Sunday, February 24, 2013

Here are my best young taste testers! There is one way to get them to eat their fruits and vegetables with natural sweetener of honey!

This recipe makes 24 regular sized muffins.

All finely shredded carrots were from our new Omega Juicer. I figured that why not use the the pulp that you can't drink for something nutritious and delicious! We got ours from Amazon. If you click on the highlight one on this blog you will get to it from there.

Carrot Ginger Bran Muffins

2 Cups all-purpose flour

2 Cups whole wheat flour

1/2 Cup wheat bran

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 Cup raisins(or any kind of small dried berry)

1 Cup rice milk(or any other kind that you prefer)

4 eggs

2/3 Cup honey

1 stick or 1/2 Cup of melted butter

1 Cup finely shredded Carrots(I reserved my pulp from my juicer)

Grease two regular sized muffin tins. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix all dried ingredients in a large bowl.

Mix raisins in flour mixture until they are no longer sticking together.

Mix the remainder of the ingredients in a medium bowl except the carrots.

Pour wet mixture into dry mixture stir just until moist. Add carrots.

Place at least 1/4 size scoops into muffin pans and distribute evenly.

Bake for 20-25 min. Check after 20.

If browned and when placing your finger on the top it bounces back they are finished.

Serve immediately or place muffins on wire cooling rack. Then you may store in a zip lock and will keep for up to 4 days in a room temp house or pantry. You may label, date and store in a freezer zip lock bag and it will last for months. Although mine never last that long in my house. I have growing boys and it so nice to have that back up when we get home from work and school. I heat ours in the microwave for 30 seconds on high from the freezer.

All are free to copy my recipe and use it for whatever they want. You may also use images of the food as well. Please don't use photos of my kids though, thank you.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

We decided to fling the old rubber band kite around on our walk around the neighborhood.

It was a crisp and fresh smelling evening full of smells of thawing earth below our feet and yet still cold as we see it under our breath.

We came back from our stroll to find the familiar flag raised on pole beam in front of our house. An awesome reminder of how lucky that we feel to live in such a country of freedom and liberty. This idea still defended by our fellow citizen in arms. Thank you to the ones who serve and still serve and to those who support them!

Our aspens are budding like the pussy willows getting ready for longer days and summer haze. For tea and shade on the front porch rockers, while we emerge ourselves in a good novel or two! I can already smell the lavender and chamomile blooming under my nose.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Here is a peony painting that I started this last weekend. I suppose I will be finished with it by the end of the week.

I had recently been absorbed by my little Paintings from the Heart. I thought that it was time to get serious again about my watercolors and get back to some bigger more time detailed watercolors. I'll keep you updated on my progress. I promise!

This is will be a painting from a collection of photos that I have accumulated over a period of the past 5 years or so. When you are raising young children like I am, you don't have a whole lot of time to sit and paint on the spot. So I always bring my camera and snag a shot or two or 500 of what I believe to be paint worthy for future paintings.

Monday, February 11, 2013

February is not a time for daisies. For me it is a reminder of what is to come. It too has meaning for me and my true love. It was our main flower at our wedding. So for February it is daisies. If you click on the image to enlarge it and save it you will be able to use it as your desktop calender too!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Both initial paintings are custom made to order. They are all unique and different. No two of them are alike. Save a stump this valentine's and order something that will last longer. This is yet another unique and different way to say I Love you to your significant other. It doesn't need to be for Valentine's Day it could be for a birthday, Anniversary, Wedding or Wedding gift for another couple.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

All these are a continuum of my Paintings from the Heart Series. They are currently for sale online at my Etsy Shop for $25 each. Each of these for sale are the original painting, not a print. In the future I may also have them available as cards and card sets.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Like a few of my paintings lately this one was in a vision of mine that I had when thinking of ways to tell a loved one that they are special to you. I started painting some of my things last year with a shadow underneath them as if they were floating or levitating still in mid air. At first I only thought of the key and it having distinct heart shapes in it. Then as I was sketching it out to paint decided that it need some color thus adding the red thread which is yet another symbol of love.

ATTENTION

This month I will be doing a drawing for 4 blank art cards. How to be entered into this drawing. Simply Like my Facebook page. Then add a comment on my page that you saw this on my blog and I will announce the winner at the end of February! Good Luck everyone!